moaning about how tough Japanese prisons were.

All I can say to those retards is: It's prison; suck it up, buttercup.

Also, compare crime rates in Japan versus American cities. Which system is working better? Specifically for the society, not the criminals.

The funny thing is Americans getting caught with weed abroad seems to be happening enough it's making news...

It's because America as an entity still (often) makes the pretense to care about its citizens when abroad. Unless they get blown up by America, American incompetence, or our Greatest Ally; in which case it's radio silence. But if we can stir up trouble with Russia, Iran, China, or similar...well, never let a crisis go to waste.